The Bayonne Historical Society honored Bayonne High School principal Richard Baccarella last month with its Men of Achievement award, along with posthumously honoring Bayonne historical figure Jacob Rutsen Schuyler.

“This is a new program,” historical society board member Lee Faley said. “Baccarella is the first living recipient, along with J. Rutsen Schuyler (deceased).”

Faley said the program will honor two men — one living and one deceased — every year in the fall. Women will be honored in the spring.

Baccarella stood behind the podium in the gallery of the second floor in the Bayonne public library on Nov. 19 and thanked his mother for her support. After that, he plied the audience with a few history questions.

“Who was the first principal of Bayonne High School?” said Baccarella, as he scanned the room for an answer, likening the experience to his early classroom days as a teacher.

Baccarella’s query puzzled the historical society members until Gerry Nowicki, sitting at the edge of his seat next to the board members, asked, “Which school?”

“Only nine principals have served Bayonne High School since the school first opened,” Baccarella said, before answering his own question: “The first principle of Bayonne High School was Philip G. Vroom.”

The elementary school on West 26th Street was named in honor of Vroom.

Baccarella also discussed his rise through the Bayonne education system as a student and then as an employee.

Bayonne superintendent of schools Patricia McGeehan, who was in the audience, described Baccarella as “a gentleman. He deserves his recognition. I’m proud of the way he conducts himself and his leadership. He walks every inch of the hallways at the high school. He’s not the kind of principal that stays in the office all day.”

Faley said the group “hope(s) to expand the program and wants the public to submit names in the future.”